Embark on an unforgettable hiking adventure in Uganda, discovering stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife
Enjoy exceptional hiking as you explore some of Uganda’s beautiful natural places and encounter extraordinary wildlife, including chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
This amazing hiking holiday takes you off the beaten track to explore some of Uganda’s natural places. As you walk, enjoy stunning scenery and the opportunity to see extraordinary wildlife. Get a rare insight into the traditional cultures of Uganda as you meet some of the warm, friendly people.
This holiday is suitable for all levels and abilities; more challenging hikes can be replaced by gentler walks in the same areas.
Tour Highlights
Outstanding walks in stunning locations
Immerse yourself in Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes with scenic walks through the crater lakes, the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and the vast savannahs of Lake Mburo. Each location offers spectacular views.
Meet people and learn about Uganda’s culture
Engage with local communities through immersive cultural experiences, from joining the Batwa people in their new home to discovering Uganda’s rich traditions through music and dance performance at Ndere cultural centre.
Track Gorillas and encounter other wildlife
Experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of trekking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to meet the endangered mountain gorillas. You will also encounter a variety of wildlife, including the rare tree-climbing lions.
Hike and spend a night on mountain Rwenzori
Challenge yourself with an unforgettable hike in the foothills of the legendary Rwenzori Mountains. Spend a night surrounded in one of the camps on the mountain, surrounded by breathtaking peaks and waterfalls.
Enjoy the company of the chimpanzee
Taker a guided walk through Kibale forest – the primate capital of East Africa and track your chimpanzee family. Watch them for 1 hour as they go about their daily activities from grooming, playing, feeding and snoozing.Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Day 2: Travel to Fort Portal. Amabere ga’nyinamwiru cultural site.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking. Swamp walk for primates and birds.
Day 4: Rwenzori mountain climb starting at 1,450 meters.
Day 5: Return to the trail head. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 6: Lazy start. Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 7: Lion tracking and later visit a salt lake. Drive to Ishasha sector
Day 8: Game drive in Ishasha sector. Transfer to Bwindi
Day 9: A thrilling forest walk tracking mountain gorillas
Day 10: Batwa trail experience. Optional Mt Muhavura climb
Day 11: Transfer to Bunyonyi. Relaxing boat ride on the lake
Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo national park. Community/ farm walk
Day 13: Nature walk in the park. Return to Kampala. Cultural music and dance performance
Day 14: Mabamba boat ride. Gentle walk at the Botanical gardens. Departure
Click on the boxes below to see the day by day itinerary
Day 1 - Evening arrival
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your guide who will be with you throughout your holiday. He will transfer you to your hotel for a relaxed and peaceful night in this quiet part of town.
Accommodation: Boma Hotel – Entebbe.
Meals: If arriving early, meals can be purchased at the hotel
Day 2: Travel to Fort Portal. Amabere ga’nyinamwiru cultural site.
07:00 after breakfast, you will drive west to Fort Portal town, approx. 5 hours away, enjoying stops throughout the journey to stretch your legs and for photo moments. Settle into your lodge and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will hike through the crater lakes to Amabere ga’nyinamwiru cultural site, a series of caves featuring many stalagmites and stalactites. During your hike to the site, through the local community and countryside, your guide will tell you all about the history, geography and culture of the region.
Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Kibale.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Chimpanzee tracking. Swamp walk for primates and birds.
At 07:30, you will join your small group for a briefing before going on a forest walk together with your ranger guide in search of your chimpanzee family. Once you have located them, you will spend a thrilling hour with them watching them play, groom, feed, snooze before returning for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit Bigodi: a successful conservation project run by the local community which protects the wetland and its inhabitants. You will take a guided walk in the swamp, looking out for primates and birds. Later, you transfer to Trekkers Hostel (approx. 2 hours away) for your overnight stay, in preparation for the next day’s adventure.
Accommodation: Trekkers Hostel – Kyanjiki.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Rwenzori mountain climb starting at 1,450 meters.
Your climb begins at Trekker’s (1,450 meters), winding through the Afro-Montane Forest, with towering trees and the sounds of various bird species. Keep an eye out for blue monkeys in the trees. The trail steepens as you approach Sine Camp (2,596m), where you’ll spend the night, gaining 1,146 meters. The camp offers stunning views of the rapids and waterfalls below.
Accommodation: Sine Camp (2,596m)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Return to the trail head. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
After your breakfast, you may choose to walk straight down through the forest zone to the trail head or you may climb up to Kalalama Camp (3,134masl) to experience the beautiful views of the waterfalls and the forest before descending to the park entrance. You will have lunch in a nearby time before transferring to Queen Elizabeth national park, approx. 1 hour away. The journey is scenic and diverse, offering a mix of lush landscapes and rural communities.
Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge – Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Lazy start. Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
You will spend this morning enjoying a lazy, relaxed start at your lodge, unwinding from previous day’s activities. You can choose to spend time by the swimming pool, listening to sounds of nature around you. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing 3-hour boat ride along the Kazinga Channel, renowned for its rich birdlife, including its high concentration of hippos, crocodiles and birds like the Pied Kingfisher and Goliath Heron. You may also spot thirsty visitors to the riverbanks, such as elephants and buffalos.
Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge – Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Lion tracking and later visit a salt lake. Drive to Ishasha sectore
This morning presents a different experience where you go off the beaten tracks, getting close to lions. You will be accompanied by researchers and wildlife rangers. This is a learning experience, having you get deeper knowledge of lions, how tracking gadgets are used, their ways and habits in their natural habitat. You will also visit a nearby salt lake to witness the fascinating ancient art of salt extraction. At 15:00 you will drive further south to Ishasha sector (approx. 2 hours away) for your overnight stay.
Accommodation: Embogo Lodge – Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Game drive in Ishasha sector. Transfer to Bwindi
Ishasha sector is famous of her tree-climbing lions and its diverse ecosystem. This is the only area in Uganda to see the tree climbing lions. The numerous fig trees in this sector hide the suspicious hunters scanning the savannah grass for prey or perhaps relaxing and taking a nap. Spend the best hours of the day exploring this sector, game viewing. The sector is also home to large herds of buffalo and antelopes. After lunch, you will transfer to Bwindi (approx. 3-4 hours). This Park is home to the mountain gorillas, 113 mammal species and 360 bird species.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: A thrilling forest walk tracking mountain gorillas
Today presents a rare and privileged opportunity to see the endangered mountain gorillas. Join your group for a briefing at 07:30am and trek through the forest in search of your gorilla family; this can take anything from 3 to 8 hours. This forest walk unfolds secrets of this impenetrable forest rewarding visitors with an exclusive natural feeling of a virgin forest, melodies of the birds singing, and come close to wildlife. Once you find your gorilla family, you will watch these enchanting creatures eat, play, groom and even snooze. If yours is a shorter trek, enjoy an afternoon’s relaxation at your lodge or a stroll around the local town.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Batwa trail experience. Optional Mt Muhavura climb
Mee the community from one of the oldest tribes in the world—the Batwa pygmies. They will guide you through their former home, where they lived in harmony with nature. The walk will last between 5-6 hours, during which you’ll hear their fascinating story and learn about their traditional ways of life.
Optional: Mt Muhabura climb
At 07:00, meet your guide and, taking a packed lunch, begin the hike up Mt. Muhabura. The 8-hour hike will not only reward you with spectacular views of the Virungas but also an opportunity to stand at the border of two countries – Uganda and Rwanda. Keep your eyes peeled for chances to see some of the wildlife present in the park.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Transfer to Bunyonyi. Relaxing boat ride on the lake
After breakfast, you will spend 2-3 hours transferring to Lake Bunyonyi. It certainly is a magical spot. The lake is dotted with numerous small islands, encircled by steep terraced hills and is reputed to be one of the deepest in Africa. The beautiful surrounding present a perfect environment for relaxation. You will spend the afternoon on a relaxing 2 hour boat trip, enjoying breathtaking views over the lush hills and the islands.
Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort – Lake Bunyonyi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - Drive to Lake Mburo national park. Community/ farm walk
Transfer to Lake Mburo national park a journey of approx. 5 hours. This is one of Uganda’s smallest parks and the among the only two parks in the country where you one can see the zebra, impala and eland. Settle into your loge upon arrival and in the late afternoon, head out on a guided community walk. Learn a lot about the local people, their culture and the treasured long horned cows.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock – Lake Mburo National Park. Meals: B, L, D
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Nature walk in the park. Return to Kampala. Cultural music and dance performance
Search for the early grazers of the park on a safari walk. Get closer to the animals including buffaloes, impalas, elands, zebras and Rothschild giraffes and watch as they go about their daily activities. After, travel back to Kampala, 5 hours away, with a stop at the Equator to have lunch and check out the craft shops for souvenir shopping. In the evening, visit the famous Ndere Centre for a performance of traditional dance and music from Uganda’s various tribes (Only on Wed, Fri and Sun).
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn – Kampala. Meals: B, L, D
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 - Mabamba boat ride. Gentle walk at the Botanical gardens. Departure
Visit Mabamba wetlands, one of Uganda’s 12 RAMSAR sites. You will take a small boat ride on this extensive marsh, in search of the globally threatened Shoebill and water birds. In the afternoon, you will take a gentle walk at the botanical gardens. It is home to primates and birds and sits on the shores of Lake Victoria. You will have a day room at the Boma Hotel to freshen up (up to 21:00) before your guide drops you at the airport in time for your departure flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Extend or customise this itinerary
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary. Simply get in touch.
Relax in comfort
We recommend mid-range properties suitable for this itinerary. We are looking for a good location; somewhere clean, safe and comfortable. We want good service, good food and, where possible, strong responsible travel practices. We are happy to suggest alternative properties and properties in different price brackets.
Responsible travel highlights
We offer fabulous holidays that have a positive impact. We consider people and planet as much as profit and try to ensure, that overall, your visit to Uganda is a force for good. We don’t claim to be perfect but we actively try.
Support Local Communities
Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of Uganda by visiting local villages and learning from the Batwa and other indigenous communities. Your visits contribute to sustainable livelihoods and help preserve local traditions and craft
Wildlife Conservation
By tracking gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitats, you’re supporting critical conservation efforts aimed at protecting these species. Your participation in these activities helps fund park maintenance.
Promote Conservation
Participate in activities like lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel, which support the park’s ongoing conservation initiatives. Your visit helps fund anti-poaching efforts and protects Uganda’s rich wildlife.
Responsible tourism
This itinerary offers unique opportunities to track wildlife and explore natural landscapes, all while minimizing your carbon footprint by hiking. This itinerary contributes to sustainable tourism practices that help offset carbon emissionsOur guests regularly spot…
Gorilla
Chimpanzees
Rothschild giraffes
Buffalo
Tree-climbing lion
Eland
Black and white colobus monkey
Zebra
Hippo
Various antelope
Buffalo
Crocodile
Bush buck
Impala
Various primates
Insects and butterflies
Various reptiles
Numerous bird species
Where the tour goes
Tour Gallery
Tour information
Duration: 14 days
Tour Type: Private
Price: please contact us for options and detailed price information
Included in this price
1 gorilla & 1 chimp tracking permit each
A double room in mid-range, non-air-conditioned accommodation
Full board meal plan
Private safari vehicle with driver and fuel for this itinerary
All entrance and other fees for the activities included in the itinerary
Mineral water in transit
All government taxes
Not included in this price
International flights
Visas
Travel insurance
Personal expenses: alcohol, laundry services and souvenirs
Tips (normally 5–10% and around $10 per day for your guide)
What Philo says about this safari…
Safaris include some early starts so consider adding some downtime into your itinerary. Many lodges have great views or quiet corners to read a book, some even have swimming pools and spas. You may even find grazers or lovey birds around your lodge.
Philo, Venture Uganda Travel Consultant
Extend & Customise
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary.
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Got any questions?
If there’s anything you’re not sure about or you would just like to chat about this itinerary, email: philo@ventureuganda.org. Tell me when you’re free, leave a contact email/whatsapp No. and I’ll be in touch.
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